Choi Scores 1st LPGA Win
By Matt Flemming
Staff Reporter
On a nerve-wracking day where Choi Na-yeon nearly let victory slip away, the young South Korean golfer regained her focus when she needed to most.
Choi drained a 5-foot putt for birdie on the 18th hole, to claim her first career victory on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour at the Samsung Open at Torrey Pines in San Diego, Calif.
Choi shot a 1-under 71 in the final round, giving her a 16-under 272 total to earn the $250,000 winner's check.
She led by as many as seven strokes but a breakdown on the back nine saw her tee off on the final hole trailing Ai Miyazato of Japan by one shot.
When Miyazato's approach shot ended up in the water, it opened the door for Choi to come from behind and win.
``I can't believe I just won my first tournament,'' Choi said. ``Throughout the second half of the tournament today I thought I was going to lose it again.
``And that putt (on 18) was, I feel like I can't say, I was really nervous and I feel I just turned pro now.''
Choi has been in contention before ― with eight top 10 results including two runner-up finishes ― but her first win had proved elusive.
She took a two-stroke lead into the final round ahead of compatriot Shin Ji-yai after blazing her way to the top of the leaderboard in the third round with a 9-under 63.
On Sunday, she picked up where she left off with birdies on Nos. 2 and 4, and an eagle on No. 6. But then things began to fall apart.
Choi bogeyed Nos. 9, 10, 11 and 15 while Miyazato birdied Nos. 7, 8, 12 and 16, causing the Korean's lead to evaporate.
Choi, who has been working with a sports psychologist, said after the round that nerves definitely affected her.
``Today mentally I felt like I was very weak mentally speaking,'' she said. ``In the latter half of the tournament, the round today, I kept telling myself, talking to myself to be positive and try to be positive about everything.''
Miyazato's bogey on the 18th gave her a 3-under 69 for the round, and a 15-under, 273 total.
Shin, meanwhile, did not live up to her ``Queen of the Final Round'' moniker, shooting a 2-over 72 to finish third. But Choi was grateful to her playing partner for helping her regain her composure when it looked like it was slipping away.
``I think Ji-yai had helped me a lot today. She was asking me why, why was I so nervous today? And I think having conversations with her helped me a lot today.''
The 21-year-old was the last pick for the field of 20 elite golfers but Sunday's win moves her to ninth on this year's money list with $945,701 in earnings.
After winning, Taiwanese golfer Yani Tseng and others showered her with beer. Choi took no offense.
``I'm just happy that my friends were congratulating me,'' she said.
Lorena Ochoa and defending champion Paula Creamer each shot a 1-under 71 on the final day and both tied for fourth. Korean Kim Song-hee tied for eighth.